There’s a pattern that we’ve observed at the Holmes Report that illustrates why being a Best Agency to Work For carries so much significance. There’s a direct correlation between the agencies on this list and those that take home our biggest honor — Agency of the Year recognition. That’s, in part, because firms that take culture seriously tend to attract and retain smart and creative talent who, in turn, produce stellar work. It’s a simple formula but one that’s easily overlooked amid the breathless pace and tremendous pressures that are a seemingly inevitable reality of agency life. But this pace is exactly why agencies shouldn’t underestimate the power its culture has on the work its employees produce.

This year, we changed the format to include a Top 5 ranking of the firms in each category. The firms recognized on the rankings include a some holding companies firms and many independents — some have generous benefits, others prioritize professional development or interesting work that keeps talent engaged. We’re working on an in-depth feature that will more deeply explore the factors that drive employee engagement within our industry. All participating firms, of course, can also obtain their own results mapped against either the industry or its competitive set.

You can read the full analysis of the Top 5 firms in each category by clicking on the category.